Pledges made by Presidents of Brazil and Guyana to continue fraternal collaboration
–    Both promise to pursue integration of CARICOM/UNASUR blocs
Pomp and ceremony was not lacking, although the formalities conferring Guyana’s highest award, the Order of Excellence, on outgoing Brazilian Head-of-State, His Excellency Luis Inacio Lula da Silva was a simple one.
Scores of dignitaries and members of the international media corps were welcomed by Indian and African drummers on the tarmac of the National Cultural Centre last Thursday evening, while the foyer came alive with colourful dancers from the National School of Dance, who swayed enticingly to steelpan music.
In his address President Bharrat Jagdeo said that, among the many duties falling on him as president, there are several that give him great pleasure, among which was the one being celebrated on that occasion – the conferral of an award on someone he hailed as a true South American hero, a global statesman, champion of the developing world, a dear friend of Guyana; and a leader of deep values driven by a sincere conviction that individual actions can create a better world.
Recounting President Lula’s rags to power life story, President Jagdeo said that his Brazilian counterpart’s life story is an inspiration – from a shoeshine boy, to a factory worker, and while quite young, he had become an activist campaigning for better treatment in hospitals for poor people.  He then became a trade unionist who recognized that the combined collective action made possible through the movement could be a force for justice.
Continuing, President Jagdeo said that the trade unionist evolved into a progressive political leader, who formed a party to campaign for democracy under the tyranny of dictatorship in his home country.  He related that, after becoming a congressman, President Lula used the democratic system in 2002 that he had struggled hard to establish to achieve the highest office of his land.
According to President Jagdeo, President Lula’s remarkable story demonstrates that, despite a marked change in his individual circumstances, the President of Brazil stayed true to his deep and enduring conviction that, even in the face of great odds, it is possible to change one’s circumstances and then use those improved circumstances to help others.  It is this conviction, stressed Guyana’s President, that motivated a 12-year-old -boy to work indefatigably to support his family.
President Jagdeo said that this is the conviction that drove the leadership of the compassionate President Lula into creating of Brazil the world’s eighth largest economy, where more than 20 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty and which is getting closer to eradicating hunger.
Citing some of the social reforms that has transformed the economy of Brazil and the lives of tens of millions of Brazilian citizens, Guyana’s President extolled his Brazilian counterpart for his reformation and transformative policies that has  won for Brazil the honour of hosting the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016,
According to President Jagdeo, President Lula’s deep-seated love for and dedication to his own country runs simultaneous to his compassionate leadership, which drove him to “…deploy his personal influence and national position to advance the lives of millions of people across the world.”
President Jagdeo ascribes the existence of the G20 partially to President Lula’s actions, which ensures greater influence of the developing world to shape their own destinies by influencing decisions impactful to their development; also President Jagdeo informed the audience that President Lula has helped to create UNASUR, which provides an enabling mechanism for the now all-democratic nations of South America to work in collaborative initiatives that will benefit the lives of the citizens of the UNASUR bloc.
Enumerating some of the global social initiatives that President Lula has established to help other nations in need, especially Africa and the Arab world, President Jagdeo said that the World’s Social Forum, which President Lula established in 2003 “…enables progressive global policies to be advanced.”  Guyana’s President praised his Brazilian counterpart for leading the struggle, at every international forum, to advance the needs of less powerful nations in the world.
This is the quality of leadership, according to President Jagdeo, that has encouraged Guyana to support Brazil’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN’s Security Council.
President Jagdeo lauded the leadership that is addressing the global challenge of climate change and spoke of many of the progressive developments achieved by Brazil in its pursuit of using clean energy, which he says stands as one of President Lula’s greatest legacies.
Speaking of the many physical, economic, social, and  personal links by way of which Guyana has benefited from Brazil’s solidarity, President Jagdeo says  these have created a stronger bond between the two countries, and that they are laying the foundation for “…the full realization of Guyana’s South American destiny.”
President Jagdeo alluded to the developmental initiatives of his Government that are transforming the lives of Guyanese, and spoke of the opportunities afforded by the potential of Guyana bridging the gateways of South America and the Caribbean.  He said the Takutu Bridge is a potent symbol of the strengthened bonds between the peoples of Guyana and Brazil, and in particular affords expanded economic opportunities for entrepreneurs of both nations, for which he expressed appreciation to President Lula.
He spoke of the many collaborative initiatives being undertaken by the two countries, especially to advance a global solution to addressing deforestation, stressing that Brazil, Guyana, and a mere six other South American nations are the stewards of over 40% of  the world’s tropical forest.
Expressing regret for the end of President Lula’s tenure as head-of-state of Brazil, President Jagdeo nevertheless welcomed the advent of his successor, Ms Dilma Roussef, who he says shares President Lula’s vision and commitment to creating a better continent and world.
Concluding his address President Jagdeo said: “Progress for a family, a community, a country, or a world is not pre-determined.  It is the direct result of the choices and actions of individuals:  the boy who left home to earn money improved the opportunities of his family; the president who lifted millions out of poverty transformed the destiny of his country; and the global statesman who fought to put millions of poor people at the centre of international decision-making, has laid the foundations for a world that is freer, fairer, and more prosperous.
“Few people on this planet have contributed as much to human progress as His Excellency President Luis Ignacio Lula Da Silva.  History will record him as an icon of our age.  Guyana will remember him as a true friend.”
President Jagdeo said: “The global statesman who fought to put billions of poor people at the centre of international decision-making has laid the foundation for a world that is freer, fairer, and more prosperous.  Few people on this planet have contributed as much to human progress as His Excellency, President Luis Ignacio Da Silva.  History will record him as a titan of our age.  Guyana will remember him as a true friend.”
After the conferral of the Order of Excellence, President Lula responded with great warmth to President Jagdeo, thanking him for the award conferred on him, and stating that he received it with great pride because it is a symbol of the affection and spirit of fraternity existing between the people of Guyana and Brazil.
According to the Brazilian Head-of-State, UNASUR evolves from a vision of integration based on a lacuna of solidarity and understanding amongst equals, which is the aim and objective of the Brazilian foreign policy.
He graciously said that it was not possible for Brazil to develop itself without our neighbours “…also finding the road to peace and prosperity, citing the commonalities guiding the development work of the two countries.  Referring to the citation on his conferment, President Lula said that the effort of the Brazilian Government to consolidate the continental destiny of Guyana has been acknowledged through the conferment of Guyana’s Order of Excellence award.
Wishing success to Guyana during is chairing of UNASUR, President Lula expressed confidence in its neighbor to perform its new role with great seriousness and competence, and promised continued support from Brazil.  He promised to assign two Brazilian diplomats to work from the foreign office in Georgetown for the duration of Guyana’s chairmanship of UNASUR and gave assurance of facilitating and hosting meetings of working groups, sessions, or sectoral councils in Brazilian cities.
He noted that during his last meeting with President Jagdeo a special committee and border regime were created and referred to the Takatu Bridge, which provides a physical linkage between the neighbouring countries, an initiative that took 27 years to be realized; stressing the great importance the bridge has assumed to the peoples of Guyana and Brazil, the ‘rapid increase of economy activities’, the impact of which he says is difficult to assess, and crunched numbers to indicate the level of travel the bridge affords commuters.
President Lula indicated Brazil’s continued interest in deepening bilateral ties with Guyana, stating that his successor, Ms Dilma Roussef, will continue to expand on the projects agreed on by current presidents of both countries, and specially mentioned the hydro project and the Linden to Lethem road, for which Brazilian funding is readily available, particularly in the light of the interest both countries share in working toward cleaner and cheaper energy.
According to the Brazilian Head-of-state, potential for trade is limitless and promised that Brazil will help with capacity-building for exports.  He confessed to looking forward to greater connectivity with Guyana through the proposed fibre-optic cable project and spoke of a working group being established to establish further areas of cooperation between both countries, especially by proffering opportunities for children to learn Portuguese so that they can be granted scholarships in Brazil.  Bilateral agreements had provided Guyana with tax-free access to Guyana’s goods, and collaborative agricultural initiatives, especially with rice, soya, and corn production
President Lula recognized Guyana’s strategic juncture which can bridge UNASUR and CARICOM nations, and said that he is awaiting Guyana’s facilitation of a meeting between MERCUSOR and CARICOM.
Building strategic alliances between the two blocs will help UNASUR to confront challenges to regional cooperation, according to President Lula, who said that Guyana is critical to that process.
Following the formalities was a cultural programme, featuring items that embraced and celebrated Guyana’s multicultural heritage, which was preceded by a stirring rendition of “O Beautiful Guyana” by the Circle of Love quartet.
The planning committee has to be commended for the exceptional décor of the the NCC for the event.  Guyana’s plethora of talent in paintings and sculptures, which were beautifully displayed on the walls and at strategic locations in the NCC’s foyer, created an ambience that resonated with beauty and served as a fitting backdrop to the pomp and ceremony of the occasion.